The
signs leading to the return of Christ are clearly
defined in scripture. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, He
told Israel
they would not see Him again until they recognized Him
as their Messiah (Matthew 23:39). Scripture, in the Old
and New Testaments links Christ return with the events
surrounding Jerusalem, Israel
and the Temple Mount. These three places play a
prominent focal point in the period known as the
“Tribulation”.

Over 500-years before the birth of Jesus, Daniel
wrote about the exact day of Messiah’s death. This
prophecy (Daniel’s 70 Weeks), in Daniel chapter 9, was
revealed to Daniel by the Angel Gabriel, in answer to
Daniel prayer for the restoration of his people, the
Jews back to the land of Israel after being captives in
Babylon for close to 70 years. Gabriel, in answering
Daniel, told Daniel a 490-year period was determined on
his people (The Jewish people) and his holy city (Jerusalem). Most of this period, 483-years, except for the last 7
would be complete, when the Messiah was killed.
According to calculations, this corresponds exactly to
Christ death in
Jerusalem on Passover A.D. 33.

At the death of Messiah, the 490-year period
determined on the Jewish people and
Jerusalem stopped. In the tribulation, the seven-years
remaining on the prophetic clock, restarts and ends with
the return of the Messiah, who was killed at His first
coming (Daniel 9:26). In the tribulation, God deals
with the world in judgment. At the end of this period, a
repentant Israel finally understands, Jesus Christ, who
the Romans crucified, at the urging of the High Priests,
was the Messiah. They call out to Him, “the one
pierced” (Zechariah 12:10) who returns with power and
great glory at Armageddon (Har-Megiddo), the hills of
Megiddo.

The other question many people ask regarding this
period is what happens to the church? Does the church go
through the tribulation with
Israel? Does God pour out his wrath on the church? The
questions regarding the Church, Israel and the
Tribulation are answered in an event commonly known as
the “Rapture”. The Rapture is the resurrection of those
who “died in Christ” and those who are alive when Christ
returns. The timing of the Rapture is a controversial
issue for many churches today. The Rapture itself is
not an issue for those who hold to a literal
understanding of scripture. The question for many is
when does the rapture occur in relation to the
Tribulation and the return of Christ?

The
Rapture

What
is the rapture?

In simple terms, the Rapture is the resurrection
of the dead in Christ, known as the first resurrection.
Derived from the Latin word rapio meaning,
“Caught up”. The “Rapture” teaches Christ will descend
from Heaven, and call those who know Him into Heaven.
Those alive are transformed into their resurrected body,
at the same time; the dead in Christ will also receive
their resurrection bodies in the twinkling of an eye.
(I Thess 4:15-17, I Cor. 15:52) This is part of the
First Resurrection.

When
is the Rapture?

When Christ comes, how will the Church be involved
in his coming? For those who hold to a literal pre-millennial[1]understanding
of scripture, there are three prevalent views of when
the rapture occurs in relation to the tribulation. These
views are known as, pre-tribulation[2],
mid-tribulation[3]
and post-tribulation[4].
All three views focus around the tribulation in relation
to when the rapture will occur. According to Jesus’ own
words, He will come in glory and power after the
tribulation of those days.

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens will be shaken. 30 "Then the sign of the
Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the
tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the
Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great gloryMatthew 24:29-30

The question, where is the Church when Jesus
returns with Glory and Power after the tribulation? Does
the Church suffer in the tribulation? Paul writes about
the Church being “Caught up” to meet the Lord in the
“Air”. Paul in I Corinthians refers to this as the
resurrection, which occurs in “twinkling of an eye”, for
the dead (sleeping) and the living at the same time. The
change Paul refers to the transformation of our bodies
from an earthly mortal body to an eternal heavenly body.

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.I Corinthians
15:51-52

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow
as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with
Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and
remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means
precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself
will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead
in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus
we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort
one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul, was writing to the Church at Thessalonica because some
had felt they had missed the Lord’s return.

Paul wrote the letter to explain the series of events which
occurs when the Lord comes for His church. From these
two portions of scripture, we can understand this
regarding the Lord’s coming for the Church.

ØHis coming involves the “Dead in Christ” and the
“Living in Christ”

ØThe speed of the event is like the “Twinkling of an
eye”

ØGod will bring with Jesus, the “Dead in Christ” to
the clouds

ØJesus will descend from Heaven with a shout

ØThe “Dead in Christ” rise first (Their bodies)

ØThe living in Christ follow being changed from
mortal to eternal bodies

ØThe living and the dead “In Christ” meet Christ in
the clouds

ØThey shall always be with the Lord

The question is when does this event occur in relation to the
tribulation? There are three different views to the
timing of the rapture. Each view uses scripture to
justify their position.

Pre-tribulation Rapture

Pre-tribulation
believes that before the tribulation, Daniel’s 70th
week, the church will be raptured into the presence
of the Lord. Those who are left will suffer through a
period of seven years of tribulation. During this period
Israel, will come to know Jesus as Messiah at which time
the Lord will return to judge the earth in his “Glorious
appearing”.

The
argument for this position is based on several points:

ØJesus warns no man knows the “Day or hour” of His
return (Imminence) . (Matthew 24:36,50, 25:13) With
the other positions we would know the day of his return.

ØThe distinction between the Church and Israel,
The church fulfills the “Fullness of the gentiles”
(Romans 11;25) Israel is restored to her position before
the fall

ØGod would pour his wrath on his own church, which
is not God’s method in the past,

For example, Noah and his family, Lott and Sodom,
Rahab and Jericho, Babylonian captives and Jerusalem

Mid-tribulation Rapture

Mid-tribulation
believes the church will endure the first 3 1/2 years of
the 70th week of Daniel. Before the
great-tribulation when God pours out his wrath, He will
catch-up his church at the middle of this seven year
period. The church will return with Christ in his
“Glorious appearing” following the “Great tribulation”

Ø The Promise of Tribulation: Since the church was
promised tribulation, we can expect to experience the
first half of the tribulation. (Matthew 24:1-9)

ØPaul taught that there would first be a time of
apostasy (2 Thes.2:3) and that perilous times shall
come” (2 Tim. 3:10).

ØNature of Seals and Trumpets:, The seal and trumpet
judgments of Revelation in the first 3.5 years are not
manifestations of divine wrath. God is merely
withdrawing his restraints and man is reaping what he is
sowing.

ØArgument from Revelation 11: Revelation 11 occurs
during the time of the rapture. The two witnesses,
“Caught up”, raptured, into heaven are accompanied by
the rest of the church. The great voice is the shout of
I Thessalonians 4:16.

Post-tribulation Rapture

Post-Tribulation
believes that before the “Glorious appearing” the church
is raptured to be with the Lord and returns with him in
the Glorious appearing. Post-tribulation holds the
church will go thru the great tribulation period,
preceding the Second Advent.

ØHistorical argument: The historical doctrine has
been the rapture is an event that would precede the
glorious return of Christ immediately followed by the
judgment seat of Christ. In which the all men would go
before the throne of Christ.

ØC. Promise of tribulation: Another argument is the
promise of tribulation given to the church. Passages
such as Luke 23:27-31, Matthew 24:9-11, Mark 13:9-13 are
promises of tribulation to the church and not
Israel.

ØWheat and Tares (Matthew
13:24-30, 36-45):An interpretation of the Wheat and
Tares places the “Saints” the Wheat and the “Unsaved”
the tares side by side till the harvest. Jesus saying,
“Let both grow together until the harvest”. The harvest
is the rapture of the believers at the end, not prior to
a tribulation period.

The Tribulation

The Tribulation period is a seven-year period,
when God deals with judgment on nations. During this
period, Israel
becomes the central focus of attention. This time is
unlike any other since the world began and never to be
repeated again. According to Jesus, unless the days were
shortened “no flesh would be
saved”. (Matthew 24:21-22)

According to the Seventy weeks of Daniel and other
scripture, this period begins with a covenant or
agreement (Peace agreement) between Israel
and many. The Antichrist allows the Jewish Temple to be
rebuilt, confirming the agreement through military might
with the world. Thus begins the tribulation period.

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for
one week; But in the middle of the week He
shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the
wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is
poured out on the desolate." Daniel 9:27

The
Tribulation period is broken into three distinct parts
in scripture:

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one
week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring
an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of
abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until
the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on
the desolate." Daniel 9:27

The beginning of the Daniel’s seventy week, or the
tribulation starts with a seven-year agreement allowing
Temple sacrifice and worship in the ThirdTemple.
This will worldwide conflict between Islam and Israel,
where Israel defeats her enemies. This event is
described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, is known as the battle
of Gog and Magog. This worldwide war cause the
necessity, for a world wide peace agreement between
Israel and the world, allowing the Jewish Temple to
exist in the 3rd most holy site to Muslims.

John, in the book of Revelation, is caught up
into heaven to witness the events taking place. In
Heaven, John sees the Throne of God (Revelation 4-5), On
the throne God has a seven-sealed scroll, which no man
can open except the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ who died
for the sins of the world. Christ takes the scroll from
the hand of His Father, and all Heaven celebrates. When
Christ begins to open the seals on the scroll God’s
judgments begin to take place.

The
Seal Judgments (Revelation 6)

When
Christ opens the first four seals, four colored horses
are seen by John, each horse represents a different
aspect of events taking place in the first half of the
tribulation.

1. White Horse: Pictures the false peace made by the Antichrist at the
start of the tribulation.

2. Red Horse: Peace is taken from the earth, the result of war

3. Black Horse: Massive inflation resulting from the war as people look for
food.

4. Pale Horse: As the result of war, famine, disease and wild animals, ¼
of the earth population dies.

John in Revelation chapters 6:2-8, describes what seems to be
the result of a nuclear war. With the spread of nuclear
weapons, and the potential outbreak of war between large
population centers, its not hard to imagine ¼ of the
earth population dying. Exactly as described by John,
what would follow in such a war would be lack of food,
because of contamination, followed by death and disease
as weakened immune systems quickly fall to disease.

5. Persecution of believers:
When the fifth seal is opened John sees, the souls of
believers in heaven who died for their testimony and the
word of God. They are told, to wait and be patient
until the rest of martyrs arrived.

During the first half of the tribulation, many will come to
Christ as events in the Bible begin to unfold. During
this period, 2 witnesses in
Jerusalem, Elijah and some feel Enoch of Moses
(Revelation 11:1-12) will witnesses to the whole world.
They will be proclaiming God’s judgments on the earth.
Many will come to Christ only to face death at the hands
of the False Prophet and his religious system. Christ
through John is telling those in the tribulation, not to
fear death. Death because of Christ is only an entrance
into Heaven.

6. Great Earthquake: The
sixth seal unleashes a great earthquake on the earth,
the sky becomes black and meteorites strike the earth.

The sixth seal puts fear into the people on the earth;
causing many recognize their own mortality. This puts
in motion the next series of judgments, which cause even
great destruction to the earth. God in His mercy is
giving humanity a chance to repent and turn. Death
should not be feared by believers but welcomed.

Revelation Chapter 7

John between the sixth seal and the opening of the seventh
sees 144,000 Jews from the 12,000 from the 12
tribes of
Israel. They are sealed servants of God, who proclaim
the Gospel during the great tribulation period.
Following this, John sees a great multitude of
believers in Heaven gathered out of the nations who were
killed during the tribulation for their faith.

7. Silence in heaven for ½ hour:
The opening of the seventh seal brings forth the seven
trumpet judgments.

The
Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8-9)

When the seventh seal is opened, the seven angels before
God’s throne were given seven trumpets. The first four
trumpet judgments result in calamites striking the
earth. When fifth and sixth trumpets sound, these
result in demonic attacks upon humanity causing another
1/3 of humanity to die in war.

1. Hail, Fire & Blood: When
the first angel sounds vegetation on the earth is burnt.
During the first 3.5 years the earth suffers from the
lack of rainfall, so the earth becomes dry and parched.
John describes 1/3 of the trees and all grass on the
earth burning. He describes the result of either
volcanic activity or meteorites striking the earth,
igniting the vegetation. (Revelation 8:7)

2.
Great Mountain burning: The second angel sounds, and what appears to John as a
burning mountain strikes the sea. This causes
destruction of 1/3 of the ships, and 1/3 of sea life.
(Revelation 8:8-9) This mountain is probably is the
first of two asteroids to strike the earth.

3. Great Asteroid: The
third angel sounds, and John describes a great star (Gr.
Aster) which strikes the earth poisoning 1/3 of the
rivers and springs of water. (Revelation 8:10-11) This
is probably the second part of the first asteroid, which
poisons the drinking water as it strikes the earth,
breaking upon entry distributing its contents over the
earth. (Revelation 8:10-11) There are special
scientific bodies funded throughout the world to examine
NEO’s or Near Earth Objects and track them. They are
rated as to what potential harm they could render the
earth.

4. Third of sky darkened: When the fourth angel sounds, 1/3 of the sky was struck and
darkened. This might be the result of volcanic
activity, the burning fires of the earth vegetation, and
from the asteroids striking the earth. (Revelation
8:12-13)

5. Demonic Locusts; The fifth angel sounds, and John sees an angel descend into a
pit in the abbys (Hell) and loose what appears to be
locusts. These locust have the power to sting those
without the “Seal of God” (The lost) for 5 months. Those
who are stung want to die, but cannot because of the
pain. Here God’s mercy is again demonstrated, moving
the lost to a point of decision about their eternity.
(Revelation 9:1-12)

6.
Demonic Horsemen: Following the 5 months, the sixth angel sounds, and four fallen angels
bound at the
Euphrates river are unleashed. These four angels lead
200 million other demons, who John describes as
horsemen, who bring the armies of east. This war with
the East and North, against the armies of Antichrist
results in the death of another 1/3 of humanity.
(Revelation 9:13-2, Daniel 11;44-45)

At this
point, at least ½ the earth population if not more has
perished by the end of the first half of the
tribulation. With the defeat of the armies of the East
and North, the Antichrist now focuses on his problem in
Jerusalem.

The
Middle of the Tribulation

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end
to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of
abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even
until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured
out on the desolate." Daniel 9:27

The
Two Witnesses

In
Jerusalem,
are two witnesses who are calling down God’s judgments
on the earth. (Revelation 11:1-12) They become the
focal point of the calamities striking the planet in the
first half of the tribulation. According to scripture,
one of these men is Elijah, who the Jews, set a cup and
a seat for at Passover. (Malachi 4;5) The world hates
them and blames them for their problems. The armies of
the Antichrist now invade Jerusalem, there the Two
Witnesses are killed. And their dead bodies lay in the
street of Jerusalem for 3 ½ days. The world by
satellite and internet are able to view their dead
bodies, the earth celebrates their death by exchanging
gifts.

10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them,
make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these
two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11
Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life
from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and
great fear fell on those who saw them.
Revelation 11:10-11

After 3 ½ days, God calls his two witnesses up into heaven,
in the view of all men, and earth then strikes Jerusalem
killing 7,000 people and destroying a tenth of the city.

Abomination of Desolation

During
this middle part of the Tribulation, Satan loses his
position in heaven to accuse the believers and is cast
to earth (Revelation 12:7-12). He then incarnates the
world leader, the Antichrist, who has invaded
Jerusalem and stopped worship in the Jewish Temple. The
Antichrist, now proclaims himself god, enters the Jewish
Temple and demands the world and Israel worship him.
Jesus warned those in Jerusalem, when they see him enter
the Temple to flee into the mountains, for what follows
is the Great tribulation. (2 Thessalonians 2;1-4)

15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,'
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let
those who are in Judea
flee to the mountains.21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not
been since the beginning of the world until this time,
no, nor ever shall be.
Matthew 24:15-21

Israel
escapes into the wilderness

Those in Jerusalem,
who listen to the words of Jesus Christ, will flee into
the mountains of Judah. When they see the Antichrist
enter the Jewish Temple, and proclaim himself god, the
event known as the Abomination of desolation has
occurred, spoken of by both Daniel and Jesus. According
to Zechariah, God will open a route of escape for those
in Jerusalem, the Mt. of Olives will split into making a
way for those in Jerusalem to escape. (Revelation 12:13-17)

1 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will
be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the
nations to battle against
Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the
women ravished. Half of the city shall go into
captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be
cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those
nations, As He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in
that day His feet will stand on the Mount of
Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the
Mount of
Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making
a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of
it toward the south.5 Then you shall flee through My
mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach
to Azal. Zechariah 14:1-5

There
in the wilderness mountains of Judah, God supernaturally
preserves a portion of Israel,
one third (Zechariah 13;9), from the horrors about to
occur on the earth. In hiding Israel wrestles with their
Messiah, as Jacob wrestled with the angel. For the next
3.5 years, wrestles with the person of Jesus Christ, was
he their Messiah? Is He their only hope? At the end
of this period, Israel finally understand Jesus Christ,
is their Messiah.

Antichrist & False prophet

The Antichrist now goes to war, against those
failed to escape, the remnant. He pursues those who
will not worship him. He sets up an image of himself in
the Jewish Temple, demanding the world worship him.
John describes a second person, another beast, with two
horns like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon. This is
the false prophet, who performs Satanic wonders
(2 thes.2:9) for the world, who urges humanity to
worship the Beast, the antichrist, by making an image of
him. (Revelation 13:11-15)

Mark of
the Beast

To
make sure all are serious in their worship, the false
prophet set up a system, an economic system, which will
not allow anyone to buy or sell unless they receive the
mark, 666, on their forehead or right hand,
pledging allegiance and worship to the Beast. Those who
refuse are killed by beheading. (Revelation 13:16-18)

The Last Half of the Tribulation (Coming)

[1]
The belief we are in a period prior to the
Millennium. Those who view the Bible as literal
and Revelation as “Futurist” have this view.

[2]
The view before the seven year tribulation,
those who know Christ will be raptured or caught
up to be with Christ and return with him at the
Second Coming or Glorious Return.

[3]
The view that at the mid-point of the
Tribulation, Christ will descend from heaven
and call those who know him into heaven.

[4]
The view that immediately following the
tribulation period, Christ will catch up his
church and then return with them in his Second
Coming. Matthew 24:29